A signal generator generates an electrical signal that is sent to an amplifier, which increases the power of the signal using power from a power source. The amplified signal is fed to a sender transducer to generate ultrasonic waves that can be focused and sent to a receiver. The receiver transducer converts the ultrasonic waves back into electrical energy and stores it in an energy storage device, such as a battery, or uses the electrical energy to power a device. In this way, a device can be remotely charged or powered without having to be tethered to an electrical outlet.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system, comprising: a sender comprising: a signal generator; an amplifier coupled to the signal generator, said amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; a sender transducer coupled to the amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves having a first phase based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier; a sender communications device adapted to receive input from a receiver communication device, the input including at least one configuration parameter; a sender controller coupled to at least one of the signal generator, the amplifier and the sender transducer and adapted to change the first phase to a second phase based on the at least one received configuration parameter; and the receiver comprising: a receiver transducer adapted and configured to receive ultrasonic waves generated by the sender transducer and to generate a receiver electrical signal based on the received ultrasonic waves and connect to a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer; a receiver communications device adapted and configured to send input to the sender, the input comprising the at least one configuration parameter; and a receiver controller coupled to at least one of the receiver transducer and the receiver electrical storage device.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a receiver electrical storage device adapted and configured to store electrical energy based on the receiver electrical signal generated by the receiver transducer.
3. A system, comprising: a signal generator; an amplifier coupled to the signal generator, said amplifier configured to receive power from a power source and to generate an electrical transmission signal adapted to be used to generate ultrasonic waves; a sender transducer coupled to the amplifier, the sender transducer adapted and configured to generate ultrasonic waves having a first phase based on the electrical transmission signal received from the amplifier; a sender communications device adapted to receive input, the input including at least one configuration parameter; and a sender controller coupled to at least one of the signal generator, the amplifier and the sender transducer and adapted to change the first phase to a second phase based on the at least one received configuration parameter.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of transducers arranged in an array.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the array is adapted and configured to produce a beam of ultrasonic energy.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the beam of ultrasonic energy is focused.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the beam of energy is unfocused.
8. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sender transducer comprises an electrostatic ultrasound transducer.
9. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sender transducer comprises a piezoelectrically actuated flexural mode transducer.
10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sender transducer comprises a piezoelectric-type transducer.
11. The system of claim 3 , wherein the transducer comprises a mechanical steering element that changes an orientation of the transducer.
12. The system of claim 3 , wherein the transducer comprises an electronic steering component that controls a focal property of the ultrasonic waves.
13. The system of claim 3 , wherein a surface of the sender is convex.
14. The system of claim 3 , wherein a surface of the sender is concave.
15. The system of claim 3 , wherein a surface of the sender is planar.
16. The system of claim 3 , wherein the receiver transducer comprises a flextensional transducer.
17. A method for emitting ultrasonic energy from a sender comprising: emitting ultrasonic energy having a first phase, the ultrasonic energy having the first phase being converted into electrical energy at a receiver at a first efficiency; receiving at least one configuration parameter; and emitting ultrasonic energy having a second phase based on the received at least one configuration parameter, the ultrasonic energy having the second phase being converted into electrical energy at the receiver at a second efficiency, wherein the second efficiency is different than the first efficiency.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one configuration parameter is received from a receiver.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising generating at least one configuration parameter based upon a signal received from a receiver.
20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising changing the steering of the transducer.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising changing a focal property of the ultrasonic energy.
22. A method for emitting ultrasonic energy from a sender comprising: emitting ultrasonic energy having a first phase, the ultrasonic energy having the first phase being converted into electrical energy at a receiver at a first rate; receiving at least one configuration parameter; and emitting ultrasonic energy having a second phase based on the received at least one configuration parameter, the ultrasonic energy having the second phase being converted into electrical energy at the receiver at a second rate, wherein the second rate is different than the first rate.
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July 6, 2015
October 17, 2017
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